LTTE using Indian
fishing fleet as cover for arms ferrying
SLN tightens screws on poachers on Lankan waters

by
Shamindra Ferdinando

With the army fighting to block the north-western coast
and thereby access to the sea to the LTTE, the navy has stepped-up its
ambitious efforts to thwart the Tigers from using the Tamil Nadu fishing
fleet to bring in war material needed in the Vanni.

As the multi-pronged army advance on the western part of
the Vanni reaches a decisive stage with troops poised to take Vidattaltivu,
navy headquarters has ordered a crackdown on Tamil Nadu fishing fleet
poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

Coming close on the heels of India sending a top level
delegation to Colombo, the unexpected action had raised many eyebrows.

Once the army secures Vidattaltivu, the LTTE writ would
lie only on about 30 kilometres of coastline extending to Pooneryn. Army
headquarters said the LTTE had lost its wherewithal to resist the
relentless assault on their bases.

The positioning of the Task Force 1 on the Mannar front
and 57 Division on the Vavuniya front following their recent link-up,
would force the LTTE not only to vacate Vidattaltivu but several other
villages north of the one-time Sea Tiger command post, the sources said.

``This would cost them at least six more kilometres of the
road leading to Pooneryn,’’ the sources said.

An authoritative official said there had been numerous
instances of Tamil Nadu fishermen facilitating the movement of LTTE cadres
and supplies through the Gulf of Mannar. The enemy’s dependence on this
route had increased after the destruction of eight floating LTTE arsenals
in four separate engagements on the high seas.

The detections made by the Indian navy, Coast Guard and
other security agencies including the ‘Q’ branch had revealed LTTE
attempts to make India a major supply base, the sources said.

The navy last week rounded up approximately 290 Tamil Nadu
fishing craft poaching in Sri Lanka waters in the Gulf of Mannar.

"We deployed a sizeable force to carry out the operation,"
an official said, adding the poachers were trapped north of Talaimmanar
and south of the Delft Island. The navy had prevented them from getting
back to the Indian waters.

Declining to comment on the number of craft deployed to
conduct the biggest operation to discourage poachers, the sources said the
navy had carried out checks on trawlers and other fishing craft near Delft
and Talaimannar.

Although the navy hadn’t found any incriminating evidence
against the Indians and both trawlers and crews were released in batches,
the operation has underscored the urgent need on the part of New Delhi to
prevent their trawlers from crossing the international maritime boundary,
the sources said.

The Sunday Island learns that during the recent high
profile visit by a top Indian delegation, Sri Lanka has reiterated her
concerns over hundreds of Indian fishing craft poaching in Sri Lankan
waters.

Despite much talked about deployment of Indian naval
assets across the international maritime boundary, hundreds of Indian
trawlers regularly enter Sri Lankan waters under the very eyes of the
Indian navy and Coast Guard, the sources said.

Dismissing accusations that the navy had harassed Indian
fishermen, the Colombo foreign office emphasized that the presence of
Indian trawlers was a serious security threat. Although, the number of
Indian fishermen collaborating with the LTTE was negligible, their support
had allowed the enemy to bring in much needed supplies.

Against the backdrop of media reports that New Delhi
wanted to deploy men and material to secure Sri Lankan air space and sea
ahead of the forthcoming SAARC summit, it would be interesting to see
whether action would be taken to stop poaching, an official said.

A senior Defence Ministry official said by the time the
SAARC leaders gather in Colombo, the LTTE would have lost more territory
on the Mannar, Vavuniya and Weli Oya fronts.